“Listen up,” his voice booms, catching everyone’s attention. “Good work out there today, and great job with last night’s win. We’re on track to make a Stanley Cup repeat if we’re able to keep this momentum and reach the playoffs.”
We all cheer and whoop, the eagerness and excitement at the idea of another shot at the cup palpable among all the guys.
Coach looks over the crowd and finds Jensen. “Reece, got anything to say to these fellas?”
We all turn to Jensen who grins and nods. “Sure do, Coach. Guys, we’ve really been hitting our stride lately. Working like a well-oiled machine, and we’re stronger and better than we were last year. Keep it up. Keep working together. No other team can compete with us, and that Cup is as good as ours!”
A roar goes up among the team and we pump our fists in the air. We’re feeling hyped, and at this moment, I really don’t think there is another team that can take us on.
“Our next game is away,” Coach declares, his voice booming, as loud and deep as he is big and tall. “Stay focused, buckle down, and let’s keep kicking ass this season.”
Another round of cheers and Coach waves his hand in the air before turning to make his way out of the locker room. As soon as he’s gone, the guys swarm me. I’ve been expecting this. I arrived today right before practice started so no one had time to interrogate me, and I haven’t responded to anyone’s texts so they’re all chomping at the bit wanting an explanation for last night.
“Okay, let’s hear it,” Carson demands, leaning against the locker next to mine. “What was that proposal last night?”
“Yeah,” Jensen adds, leaning on my other side, as if making sure I can’t get away. “Are you going to really try and tell us you and Sutton have been secretly dating behind all our backs?”
“You really think you can keep a secret like that from us?” Zander demands to know. “After every secret we’ve ever tried to keep has been dug up and exposed for all to see? Besides, we’re meeting the girls at the bar later, so if you don’t tell us, I’m sure they will.”
“You all are worse than a group of teenage girls when it comes to secrets,” Wilder jokes, then shoots me a sympathetic look while holding his hands up, as if to say,‘If you need support, I’m here. Otherwise I’m staying out of it.’
Letting out a long breath, I look between all of them and say, “All right, take it easy, guys. Sutton and I are in a mutually beneficial arrangement for the sake of our families. We understand each other and are helping each other out.”
They all blink at me, as if confused.
Zander murmurs, “Man, marriage is about love. How can you even think of marrying for less? Don’t get me wrong, Sutton is amazing, but do you love her?”
I’m not surprised by his response. I’m pretty certain all these guys feel the same way because their heads are clouded with the supposed happily-ever-afters they are desperately hoping don’t come to an end. Sure, their relationships are great, but I’m not such an optimist about love.
“Love is subjective,” I reply with a shrug. “Relationships are transactional. Sutton and I are both practical about these things. We have to be for the sake of our futures.”
Carson lets out a laugh and shakes his head. “Shit, dude, you’re in sooo much trouble.”
The other guys crack up at this as well.
“He sure is,” Jensen chuckles.
“Big trouble,” Zander grins.
Even Wilder smirks, amused. I don’t expect them to understand. Why would they? They don’t live with the same pressures and expectations Sutton and I do. People say money buys happiness, but in my experience, it mostly creates shackles and leashes, holding people in place because they’re so terrified to lose it.
“You guys don’t need to worry about me or Sutton,” I insist, turning to open my locker. “We know what we’re doing.”
I feel a little annoyed when the guys chuckle around me and Jensen says, “Right. We totally haven’t heard that before.”
Rolling my eyes, I don’t respond. They’ve all found something nice and it’s made them ridiculous. It won’t happen to me. I know better.
Love is a fairytale, and I don’t have time for make-believe.
The bar is busy, though it’s no surprise. Night Hawks fans flock to this place for a chance to see us, and maybe take a shot or two. Thankfully, our fans are pretty chill, except for the occasional over-eager Puck Bunny, so we don’t have problems when we hang out here. The cold air sweeps in whenever the door opens, so the guys and I are gathered on the far side of the bar away from the entrance. Jensen and Carson are playing darts in the corner while Zander and Wilder sit huddled at a table nearby, having some way-too-deep conversation about the best place in the city to get fried chicken.
I’m standing against the wall in between the guys, watching the room as I nurse a glass of whiskey. I keep glancing toward the door, wondering where the girls are. I’ve been staring at that door for a long time, just waiting and waiting for them to appear. Okay, well… waiting for Sutton to appear, really.
They should’ve been here by now.
At that moment, the bar door opens and there she is, as if my mind has somehow conjured her. She’s changed out of her sexy pencil skirt and blouse and into some hip hugging jeans and a long-sleeve shirt that shows off her slender dancer figure. Theother girls walk into the bar too, but I can’t tear my eyes from Sutton.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. Her long brown hair is loose and falling in soft curls around her shoulders, and when she moves her head, that flash of teal teases me. I want to wrap her hair around my fist and get a full view of that teal as I fuck her from behind.
